Netanyahu Secures U.S. Assurance That Israel’s Qualitative Military Edge Will Remain Despite Saudi F-35 Deal
Israeli prime minister says United States has guaranteed Jerusalem’s superiority even as Saudi Arabia eyes purchase of advanced fighter jets.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has announced that the United States has assured Israel it will preserve its so-called qualitative military edge (QME) amid a toughening deal to sell the advanced F-35 stealth fighter jet to Saudi Arabia.
In remarks published on Thursday, Netanyahu said he personally intervened in discussions with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and insisted on safeguards to maintain Israel’s technological lead.
Netanyahu told Abu Ali Express that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman did not receive “everything he wanted” in the U.S. offer, accompanying the comments with a warning that while Israel did not oppose the sale to Saudi Arabia in principle, the deal would create a far stronger objection if extended to Turkey.
He stressed the unique nature of Israel-Saudi ties, noting that for Turkey the level of threat would fundamentally alter Israel’s calculus.
The U.S. sale has been widely reported, culminating in President Donald Trump’s declaration that Washington “will be selling the F-35s” to Saudi Arabia ahead of the crown prince’s visit to Washington.
Yet U.S. officials say the Saudi jets would be a downgraded version, lacking some of the advanced features reserved for Israel’s fleet in line with U.S. policy safeguarding Jerusalem’s QME.
The issue is one of the most significant shifts in Middle East military-sales policy, given the F-35’s role as a fifth-generation stealth aircraft with exceptional intelligence, strike and electronic-warfare capabilities.
Israel has conditioned its support for the sale on strict security parameters, including limiting deployment of the jets and tying them to progress on a normalization accord with Riyadh.
Analysts note that the U.S. could use the deal to rewrite arms-sale rules, but that preserving Israel’s edge now demands not just superior numbers but unique systems and early access to next-generation platforms.
Netanyahu’s remarks signal Jerusalem’s determination to remain in close consultation with Washington.
His insistence that he raised the issue personally with U.S. leadership reinforces Israel’s longstanding strategic partnership with the United States and its reliance on U.S. guarantees.
While the F-35 deal moves forward, Israel appears to be securing both legal and technical assurances that its future dominance in the air will remain intact.
In remarks published on Thursday, Netanyahu said he personally intervened in discussions with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and insisted on safeguards to maintain Israel’s technological lead.
Netanyahu told Abu Ali Express that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman did not receive “everything he wanted” in the U.S. offer, accompanying the comments with a warning that while Israel did not oppose the sale to Saudi Arabia in principle, the deal would create a far stronger objection if extended to Turkey.
He stressed the unique nature of Israel-Saudi ties, noting that for Turkey the level of threat would fundamentally alter Israel’s calculus.
The U.S. sale has been widely reported, culminating in President Donald Trump’s declaration that Washington “will be selling the F-35s” to Saudi Arabia ahead of the crown prince’s visit to Washington.
Yet U.S. officials say the Saudi jets would be a downgraded version, lacking some of the advanced features reserved for Israel’s fleet in line with U.S. policy safeguarding Jerusalem’s QME.
The issue is one of the most significant shifts in Middle East military-sales policy, given the F-35’s role as a fifth-generation stealth aircraft with exceptional intelligence, strike and electronic-warfare capabilities.
Israel has conditioned its support for the sale on strict security parameters, including limiting deployment of the jets and tying them to progress on a normalization accord with Riyadh.
Analysts note that the U.S. could use the deal to rewrite arms-sale rules, but that preserving Israel’s edge now demands not just superior numbers but unique systems and early access to next-generation platforms.
Netanyahu’s remarks signal Jerusalem’s determination to remain in close consultation with Washington.
His insistence that he raised the issue personally with U.S. leadership reinforces Israel’s longstanding strategic partnership with the United States and its reliance on U.S. guarantees.
While the F-35 deal moves forward, Israel appears to be securing both legal and technical assurances that its future dominance in the air will remain intact.
